A word to the wise. After trekking a hard 42km to Machu Picchu, it is not a good idea to hop on a bus just a mere 12 hours after you get back do Cusco, especially if said bus ride lasts for 21 hours. Then after a short stopover in Lima, hop on another bus, this time for 19 hours. That is NOT A GOOD IDEA and not how your muscles would like to recuperate. Anyhow I did make it to Máncora just under 48 hours after I left Cusco. My bus had multiple stops and was te...

There's not much to say for Cusco. It's a great city with lots to do. But between organising my s*** for Machu Picchu and feeling f***ing terrible, I didn't end up seeing a lot of it. One thing I did do is visit the Inca ruin Saqsaywaman (pronounced pretty much as 'sexy woman') on the outskirts of town. Feeling a little lazy and wanting to save my legs for the upcoming Machu Picchu onslaught, I opted to take a horse ride. You see more quicker and it's cheaper. ...

Machu Picchu trek in summary: walking, trekking, high points (4200m), low points, steep up and down, walking stick, 'Inca toilets' (ie. nature), squating, beautiful nature, rich history, animals (llamas, alpacas, hummingbirds and more), amazing food, crazy porters (carrying up to 30kg), all four seasons, sunscreen, rain, wet shoes, baby wipe showers, ponchos, sore knees, sore back, sore feet, incredible sights... All the guys in my room were also doing Machu Pic...

Lima is crazy - in the best possible South American way. Upon arrival two taxis flat out refused to take me. The third was asking for 25 soles, when the price should be 7-10 soles, so I told him where to go. I may be a 'gringo' and a girl traveling alone but I'm not dumb or to be taken advantage of. Anyhow the forth taxi driver agreed to take me and for the right price. It was a truly authentic South American taxi ride. The taxi driver pretended to know where h...

I return from two days of traipsing through nature. Just like the salt flats in Bolivia, Colca Canyon did not disappoint. The only thing that slightly marred the trip was the overly helpful tour guide, who insisted on speaking into the bus microphone for every possible minute, never allowing me a minute or two to absorb all the beauty and wonder that I was seeing. On day one the bus slowly climbed altitude until we reached Coyllama, the highest possible point...